Use of thermoelectric elements for clear ice making, ice harvesting, and creating a temperature condition for clear ice making

ABSTRACT

An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.

CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/673,979 filed on Mar. 31, 2015, pending, entitled USE OFTHERMOELECTRIC ELEMENTS FOR CLEAR ICE MAKING, ICE HARVESTING, ANDCREATING A TEMPERATURE CONDITION FOR CLEAR ICE MAKING, which claimsbenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/130,066, filed Mar.9, 2015, entitled USE OF THERMOELECTRIC ELEMENTS FOR CLEAR ICE MAKING,ICE HARVESTING, AND CREATING A TEMPERATURE CONDITION FOR CLEAR ICEMAKING, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an ice maker for makingsubstantially clear ice pieces, and methods for the production of clearice pieces. More specifically, the present invention generally relatesto an ice maker and methods which are capable of making substantiallyclear ice without the use of a drain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the ice making process when water is frozen to form ice cubes,trapped air tends to make the resulting ice cubes cloudy in appearance.The trapped air results in an ice cube which, when used in drinks, canprovide an undesirable taste and appearance which distracts from theenjoyment of a beverage. Clear ice requires processing techniques andstructure which can be costly to include in consumer refrigerators andother appliances. There have been several attempts to manufacture clearice by agitating the ice cube trays during the freezing process to allowentrapped gases in the water to escape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an ice makingapparatus for an appliance that includes a housing surrounding aninterior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across theinterior volume and configured to retain water. The ice making apparatusalso includes a thermoelectric device having a cold side and a hot side,the cold side thermally coupled to a bottom portion of the ice tray. Anair movement device is configured to circulate air within the interiorvolume such that the air transfers heat from the hot side of thethermoelectric device to an upper portion of the ice tray.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an ice makingapparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interiorvolume and an ice tray contained with the interior volume and configuredto retain water. A heat pump is thermally coupled to a bottom surface ofthe ice tray. The heat pump is configured to expel heat away from thebottom surface and freeze water in the ice tray. The ice makingapparatus also includes a heat transfer device which is configured tomove heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interiorvolume for forming at least one substantially clear ice piece within theice tray.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method includessteps of providing an appliance with an ice maker housing that has aninterior volume and providing an ice tray suspended within the interiorvolume. The ice tray has reservoirs containing water and a bottomsurface thermally coupled to a thermoelectric device. The method alsoincludes transferring heat from the bottom surface of the ice trayacross the thermoelectric device to air below the ice tray within theinterior volume. In addition, the method includes circulating the airsuch that heat from the bottom surface is transferred to a top surfaceof the water forming substantially clear ice pieces in the ice tray.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the presentinvention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled inthe art by reference to the following specification, claims, andappended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerating applianceincorporating an ice making apparatus, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an appliance door showing the icemaking apparatus with a housing cutaway to expose an ice tray, accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the ice making apparatus ofFIG. 2, taken along line III-III;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an ice making process, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the ice making apparatusaccording to another embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an ice making apparatus in aninverted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the subject invention is described, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the particular embodiments describedbelow, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and stillfall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology employed is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting.Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by theappended claims.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivates thereofshall relate to an ice making apparatus 10 as oriented in FIG. 2, unlessstated otherwise. However, it is to be understood that the ice makingapparatus may assume various alternative orientations, except whereexpressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood thatthe specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification, are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims.Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relatingto the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered aslimiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of an ice making apparatus 10 isgenerally disposed within a door 26 of a refrigerating appliance 14,generally referred to as a French door refrigerating appliance. In theillustrated embodiment, the ice making apparatus 10 is located above anice dispenser 30 on the door 26 to facilitate dispensing ice from an icecube storage container 38 (FIG. 2) of the ice making apparatus 10without opening the door 26. In certain embodiments, the ice makingapparatus 10 can be near one of a refrigerating compartment 18 or afreezer compartment 22 of the refrigerating appliance 14. However,additional embodiments of the ice making apparatus may be included inthe door of a differently configured refrigerating appliance, such as aside-by-side refrigerating appliance, in an alternative location withina refrigerating and/or freezer appliance, and within a dedicated icemaker appliance.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in the depicted embodiment the ice makingapparatus 10 includes an ice maker housing 34 disposed inside of an icecube storage container 38. The ice cube storage container 38 includes astorage space 42 which may store ice pieces until needed. An interiorvolume 46 of the ice maker housing 34 communicates with the storagespace 42 of the ice cube storage container 38, which in turncommunicates with the ice dispenser 30, such that ice formed in the icemaker housing 34 can be removed from the outside surface of the door 26.Accordingly, the ice maker housing 34, although shown partially cutaway,surrounds the interior volume 46 and provides openings to allowcommunication for the passing of ice pieces.

Referring again to FIG. 2, according to the depicted embodiment, an icetray 54 is horizontally suspended across and pivotally coupled tostationary support members 58 within the ice maker housing 34. The icecube storage container 38 and housing 34 may be integrally formed with adoor liner 62 of the door 26 or may be separate components. Locatedwithin the ice maker housing 34 is a thermal storage element 66, and anair movement device 70. The ice maker housing 34 includes a body portion74, an opening 76 (FIG. 5), and a door 78 connected with a hinge 82(FIG. 3) permitting the housing 34 to open via the door 78 rotating awayfrom the body portion 74. Opening of the housing 34 allows communicationbetween the interior volume 46 of the housing 34 and the storage space42 of the ice cube storage container 38 such that clear ice pieces 50formed in the ice tray 54 may fall into the storage space 42.

Still referring to FIG. 2, air 90 within the interior volume 46 of theice maker housing 34 is circulated via the air movement device 70. Inother embodiments, the air movement device 70 moves or replaces air inthe housing 34. The air movement device 70 may include a conventionalfan, a bladeless fan, structures promoting natural circulation, and/orother known methods and structures of moving air. The ice maker housing34 may employ a single air movement device 70 or a plurality of airmovement devices 70 configured to move the air 90 in a predeterminedflow path. In one exemplary embodiment, the ice maker housing 34includes a plurality of air movement devices 70 disposed within theinterior volume 46 of the housing 34 configured to circulate the air 90in a circular motion around an axis 94 of the ice tray 54. In otherembodiments, the air movement device 70 may be configured to circulatethe air 90 parallel to the axis 94 of the ice tray 54.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3, the ice tray 54 includes an iceforming plate 110 with a top surface 114 and a bottom surface 118. Theice forming plate 110 is a conductive material, such as metal. Forexample, a zinc-alloy, which is corrosion resistant and suitablythermally conductive, may be used in the ice forming plate 110. Acontainment wall 122 surrounds the top surface 114 of the ice formingplate 110 and extends upwards around the periphery thereof. Thecontainment wall 122 is configured to retain water 124 on the topsurface 114 of the ice forming plate 110. In one embodiment, therefrigeration appliance 14 has a water system capable of dispensing thewater 124 into the ice tray 54. In another embodiment, a user of therefrigeration appliance 14 may fill the ice tray 54 externally of therefrigeration appliance 14. A median wall 126 extends orthogonally fromthe top surface 114 of the ice forming plate 110 parallel to the axis 94of the ice tray 54, dividing the ice tray 54 into at least tworeservoirs 130, 138. A first reservoir 130 is defined between the medianwall 126 and a first sidewall 134 of the containment wall 122. A secondreservoir 138 is defined between the median wall 126 and a secondsidewall 142 of the containment wall 122, which is generally opposingthe first sidewall 134 of the containment wall 122.

Dividing walls 146 extend generally orthogonally from the top surface114 of the ice forming plate 110 and generally perpendicularly to themedian wall 126. These dividing walls 146 further separate the ice tray54 into an array of individual compartments 150 for the formation ofclear ice pieces 50. The compartments 150 are generally square in theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-3, with inwardly and downwardly extendingsides to facilitate harvesting of the clear ice pieces 50. A grid 154 isprovided which forms the median wall 126 and the dividing walls 146. Thegrid 154 is separable from the ice forming plate 110 and the containmentwall 122, and is preferably resilient and flexible to facilitateharvesting of the clear ice pieces 50. Although the depiction shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 includes one median wall 126 with two rows of compartments150, two or more median walls 126 could be provided in additionalembodiments. Similarly, although eight individual compartments 150 aredepicted, other embodiments of the ice tray 54 may include more or lessdividing walls 146 to increase or decrease the number of individualcompartments 150.

Referring again to the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3, the ice formingplate 110 has upwardly extending edges 160 around its exterior, and thecontainment wall 122 is integrally formed over the upwardly extendingedges 160 to form a water-tight assembly, with the upwardly extendingedge 160 of the ice forming plate 110 embedded within the lower portionof the containment wall 122. In one embodiment, the containment walls122 are an insulative material, including, without limitation, plasticmaterials, such as polypropylene. The containment wall 122 may be moldedover the upwardly extending edges 160 of the ice forming plate 110, suchas by injection molding, to form an integral part with the ice formingplate 110 and the containment wall 122. However, other methods ofsecuring the containment wall 122 include, without limitation,mechanical engagement or an adhesive. The containment wall 122 maydiverge outwardly from the ice forming plate 110, and then extend in anupward direction, which is substantially vertical.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a heat pump (e.g., a thermoelectric device164 or compression cycle systems) is physically affixed and thermallyconnected to the bottom surface 118 of the ice forming plate 110 to coolthe ice forming plate 110, and thereby cool water 124 is added to thetop surface 114 of the ice forming plate 110. The thermoelectric device164, as illustrated, is coupled to a heat sink 168 and transfers heatfrom the bottom surface 114 of the ice forming plate 110 to the heatsink 168 during formation of clear ice pieces 50. One example of such adevice is a thermoelectric plate which can be coupled to a heat sink168, such as a Peltier-type thermoelectric cooler. In additionalembodiments, the thermoelectric device 164 may be thermally coupled tothe heat sink 168 through conductive materials or through the air 90. Incertain embodiments, the ice forming plate 110 can be formed directly bythe thermoelectric device 164, and in other embodiments the ice formingplate 110 is thermally linked with the thermoelectric device 164. Theheat sink 168 includes fins 172 to facilitate transfer of thermal energyfrom the heat sink 168 to the air 90. In the depicted embodiment, thefins 172 are perpendicular to the median wall 126, but may take otherconfigurations depending on the desired flow path of air 90 within thehousing 34. The heat sink 168 comprises a conductive material which hasa high heat capacity, such as a metal. For example, the heat sink 168may comprise copper, silver, or other similar metals.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the thermal storage element 66 isconfigured to absorb and release thermal energy from the air 90 with thehousing 34. In the depicted embodiment, the thermal storage element isdisposed along an inner surface of the body portion 74 of the housing 34directly above the ice tray 54. In some embodiments, the thermal storageelement 66 may be suspended within the interior volume 46 or may bedisposed beside or under the ice tray 54 within the housing 34. The icemaking apparatus 10 may include a single unitary thermal storage element66, as depicted in FIG. 3, or may include a plurality of thermal storageelements 66 which may be disposed at various locations throughout theinterior volume 46. Additionally or alternatively, the thermal storageelement 66 may be porous, include airflow paths, and/or fins to maximizethe surface area contacting the air 90 within the housing 34. Inembodiments where the thermal storage element 66 is in contact with thehousing 34, there may be an insulative material disposed between thethermal storage element 66 and the housing 34. In one embodiment, thethermal storage element 66 includes a material which undergoes a phasetransition above 0° Celsius. Exemplary materials include paraffin wax,metallic metals, alcohols, glycols, and refrigerants. In a furtherembodiment, the material of the thermal storage element 66 has a highheat capacity and a high heat transfer coefficient.

According to one embodiment, the ice making apparatus 10 employs variedthermal input to produce clear ice pieces 50 for dispensing. In anotherembodiment, the ice making apparatus 10 employs a rocking motion toproduce clear ice pieces 50 for dispensing. In another, the ice makingapparatus 10 uses materials of construction with varying conductivitiesto produce clear ice pieces 50 for dispensing. In another aspect, theicemaker 10 is a twist-harvest ice making apparatus 10. Any one of theabove aspects, or a combination thereof, as described herein, may beused to promote the formation of clear ice.

Referring now to FIG. 4, according to one embodiment of a clear icemaking process 178, thermal energy expelled by the thermoelectric device164 may be used to heat the air 90 above the ice tray 54 to atemperature which is warmer than the temperature of the ice formingplate 110. In the depicted embodiment, the process 178 may be startedwith step 180 of circulating the air 90. As described above, the airmovement device 70 circulates the air 90 within the interior volume 46around the axis 94 of the ice tray 54. In another embodiment, the air 90may be circulated along the length of the ice tray 54. Next, step 182 ofactivating the thermoelectric device 164 is performed. With respect tostep 182, the activation of the thermoelectric device 164 causes thethermoelectric element 164 to begin transferring thermal energy from thebottom of the ice tray 54 to the heat sink 168. As the air 90 iscirculating below the ice tray 54, it passes over the fins 172 of theheat sink 168 and is warmed by absorbing thermal energy expelled fromthe thermoelectric device 164.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the circulation of the warmed air 90 allowsstep 186 of transferring heat from the air 90 to take place. As the air90 warmed by the heat sink 168 continues circulating around the interiorvolume 46, it passes over the ice tray 54 and thermal storage element66. As the air 90 passes over the water 124 within the ice tray 54 ittransfers heat to the water 124. The thermal energy transferred to thetop of the water 124 creates a thermal gradient across the water 124between the ice forming plate 110 and the air 90. The air 90 may besupplied over the ice tray 54 in a manner which is sufficient to causeagitation of the water 124 retained within the ice tray 54, allowingrelease of gases from the water 124, or may have generally laminar flowwhich affects the temperature above the ice tray 54, but does notagitate the water 124 therein. During circulation, the air 90 alsopasses over and transfers thermal energy to the thermal storage element66. After expelling the thermal energy gained from the heat sink 168 andthereby cooling, the air 90 is circulated below the ice tray 54 to coolthe heat sink 168 by absorbing heat expelled from the thermoelectricdevice 164.

With further reference to FIG. 4, steps 180-184 are performed andrepeated until step 186 of forming substantially clear ice pieces 50takes place. In the depicted embodiment, step 188 of reversing heat flowof the thermoelectric device 164 may be performed as explained ingreater detail below. In other embodiments, step 188 is optional.

Generally, creating a thermal gradient in the water 124 while freezingresults in directional solidification of the water 124 into thesubstantially clear ice pieces 50. Directional solidification occurswhen ice crystals nucleate at a common point in the individualcompartments 150 (e.g., at a bottom portion of the water 124), and growin the same direction (e.g., toward the top of the water 124) untilcomplete solidification of the water 124 has occurred. Duringdirectional solidification, the top of the water 124 remains liquid andallows trapped gasses to escape prior to complete solidificationresulting in the substantially clear ice pieces 50.

According to one embodiment, the ice tray 54 may be rocked back andforth while the water 124 freezes to become the substantially clear icepieces 50. Rocking aids in the formation of clear ice pieces 50 in thatit causes the release of air bubbles from the liquid as the liquidcascades over the median wall 126 and also in that it encourages theformation of ice in successive thin layers, and, when used in connectionwith warm air flow, allows exposure of the surface of the clear icepieces 50 to the warmer temperature air 90. For additional informationregarding fabrication and utilization of rocking ice makers, refer toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,283 to Boarman et al., entitled“ICE MAKER WITH ROCKING COLD PLATE,” filed Dec. 13, 2012 and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/713,199 to Boarman et al., entitled “CLEAR ICEMAKER WITH WARM AIR FLOW,” also filed Dec. 13, 2012, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an additional embodiment of the ice tray 54includes a heat transfer device 190 thermally coupled to the heat sink168. The heat transfer device 190 extends from the heat sink 168, aroundthe ice tray 54, and is partially disposed above the reservoirs 130,138. The ice tray 54 may include a single heat transfer device 190 or aplurality of devices 190 disposed over different portions of the icetray 54. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer device190 is disposed above and extends parallel with the axis 94 of the icetray 54. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a plurality of heattransfer devices 190 are disposed over the ice tray 54, each device 190positioned over the dividing walls 146 of the grid 154 between theindividual compartments 150. The heat transfer device 190 is configuredto transfer thermal energy from the heat sink 168 to the air 90 abovethe reservoirs 130, 138 of the ice tray 54. The heat transfer device 190may include a heat pipe, thermosiphon, or other passive and/or activeheat transfer structures. Examples of heat pipes include vapor chambers,variable conductance heat pipes, pressure controlled heat pipes, anddiode heat pipes.

In additional embodiments, the refrigeration appliance 14 may include anair intake and an air outlet such that the air 90 within the ice makerhousing 34 is in communication with a space external to therefrigeration appliance 14. In such an embodiment, the air movementdevice 70 may draw air into the housing 34 through the air intake. Theair 90 is then passed over the heat sink 168 and warmed. The warmed air90 would be circulated through the housing 34 and across the water 124in the ice tray 54 and then expelled through the air outlet. Such anembodiment has the advantage of warming air that is already at anexternal air temperature so as to provide a greater temperature gradientacross the water 124 in the ice tray 54.

After formation of the substantially clear ice pieces 50 from the water124, the ice 50 may be harvested. According to one embodiment of theclear ice making process 178, thermal energy expelled by thethermoelectric device 164 during the freezing process may be used toheat an interface between the ice forming plate 110 and the clear icepieces 50 to facilitate easier harvesting. During operation of the iceharvesting process, the thermoelectric device 164 may reverse the flowof thermal energy such that heat is drawn from the air 90 through theheat sink 168 and transmitted to the ice forming plate 110 across thethermoelectric device 164. As residual heat in the heat sink 168 isremoved, the heat sink 168 becomes cold and begins to absorb thermalenergy from the circulating air 90. As the circulating air 90 passesover the heat sink 168 and cools to a temperature lower than the thermalstorage element 66, the thermal storage element 66 releases thermalenergy to the circulating air 90, thereby stabilizing the temperature ofthe air 90 above 0° Celsius and transferring heat to the heat sink 168.The thermal energy released by the thermal storage element 66 andabsorbed by the heat sink 168 is then transferred across thethermoelectric device 164 to the ice forming plate 110. The transfer ofthermal energy to the ice forming plate 110 warms the interface betweenthe clear ice pieces 50 and the ice forming plate 110, thus facilitatingharvesting of the pieces 50 from the tray 54. In embodiments utilizingthe heat transfer device 190, the heat transfer device 190 may alsofunction to absorb thermal energy from the air 90 and transfer it to theheat sink 168.

Referring now to the depicted embodiment in FIG. 6, after the water 124in the ice tray 54 has frozen to become the clear ice pieces 50 and theinterface between the clear ice pieces 50 and ice forming plate 110 hasbeen warmed, the ice tray 54 may be inverted to facilitate harvesting ofthe clear ice pieces 50. In such an embodiment the ice tray 54 issupported by and pivotally coupled to the stationary member 58 at oneend and operably connected to a harvest motor 200 at another end. Duringharvesting of the clear ice pieces 50, the panel 78 may rotate away fromthe body portion 74 and into the ice cube storage container 38, therebyallowing communication between the interior volume 46 of the housing 34and the ice cube storage container 38. In one embodiment, after thehousing 34 has been opened, the harvest motor 200 rotates the ice tray54 approximately 180°, such that the ice tray 54 is inverted and theclear ice pieces 50 may descend via gravity into the ice cube storagecontainer 38. Alternativley, the harvest motor 200 may rotate the icetray 54 prior to the panel 78 rotating away from the body portion 74. Inanother embodiment, the housing 34 may include upper and lower portionsconfigured to rotate away from one another. In such an embodiment thehousing 34 may rotate to provide an opening for the clear ice pieces 50to enter the ice cube storage container 38 as the upper and lowerportions rotate away from one another.

In one embodiment, the ice tray 54 may be a twist harvest ice tray 54.In such an embodiment, the ice making apparatus 10 may be configured tomechanically twist the ice tray 54 along the axis 94 such that the grid154 is distorted. Distortion of the grid 154 may generate a stress onthe substantially clear ice pieces 50 until they are released from theice tray 54 and exit the housing 34 into the ice cube storage container38. For additional information regarding fabrication and utilization oftwist harvest ice makers, refer to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/713,228 to Boarman et al., entitled “TWIST HARVEST ICE GEOMETRY,”filed Dec. 13, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described invention and other components is notlimited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of theinvention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety ofmaterials, unless described otherwise herein. In this specification andthe amended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” includeplural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit, unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimit of that range, and any other stated or intervening value in thatstated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lowerlimits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in thesmaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the invention, subjectto any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the statedrange includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either orboth of those included limits are also included in the invention.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the twocomponents. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removableor releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present invention, and further it is to beunderstood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having adoor; an icemaker housing on the door, the icemaker housing having aninternal volume; an icemaker disposed within the icemaker housing; astationary member disposed at a first end of the icemaker; a motordisposed at a second end of the icemaker; an ice tray having a bottomportion, the ice tray horizontally suspended from the first end to thesecond end and configured to retain water, the ice tray operably coupledwith the motor and rotatable about an axis; a thermoelectric devicefixedly attached to the ice tray, the thermoelectric device having acold side and a hot side, the cold side thermally coupled to the bottomportion, and the hot side thermally coupled to a heat sink; a heattransfer device within the icemaker housing and thermally coupled to theheat sink; and a fan located adjacent to the ice tray and thethermoelectric device, the fan configured to circulate air parallel tothe axis of the ice tray and directly toward the thermoelectric device;wherein the fan is configured to circulate air within the interiorvolume, such that the air transfers heat from the hot side of thethermoelectric device to an upper portion of the ice tray.
 2. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein the fan is within the icemaker housing.3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device is atleast partially disposed both below and above the ice tray.
 4. Therefrigerator of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer device extends below,above, and along a side of the icemaker.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1,further comprising: a thermal storage element disposed within theinterior volume of the icemaker housing for stabilizing the airtemperature within the icemaker housing.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 5,wherein the thermal storage element is disposed above the ice tray. 7.The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the thermal storage elementcomprises a material that undergoes a phase transition at a temperatureabove 0° Celsius.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the thermalstorage element is configured to absorb and expel heat such that the airtemperature within the icemaker housing is stabilized above 0° Celsius.9. A refrigerator comprising: a door rotatably mounted on a cabinet; anicemaker housing attached to the door, the icemaker housing having aninterior volume; an icemaker having an ice tray with a bottom surfacedisposed within the icemaker housing; a motor having a rotational axisoperably coupled to the ice tray; a heat pump attached to and rotatablewith the ice tray, the heat pump thermally coupled to the bottomsurface, the heat pump configured to expel heat away from the bottomsurface and freeze water in the ice tray; and a heat transfer devicethermally coupled to the heat pump, the heat transfer device configuredto move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of theinterior volume for forming at least one substantially clear ice piecewithin the ice tray; a fan located within the icemaker housing; the fanbeing located adjacent to the ice tray and the heat pump; the heattransfer device being thermally coupled to the heat pump, wherein theheat transfer device is at least partially disposed both below and abovethe ice tray.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, further comprising: athermal storage element disposed within the internal volume of theicemaker housing.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the thermalstorage element comprises a material that undergoes a phase transitionat a temperature above 0° Celsius.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 10,wherein a material of the thermal storage element comprises at least oneof a wax, a metal, and a refrigerant.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 9,wherein the heat transfer device includes at least one of an airmovement device, a thermal siphon, and a heat pipe.
 14. The refrigeratorof claim 9, wherein the ice tray is configured to hold unfrozen water.15. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the ice tray and the motorshare a rotational axis.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein theheat transfer device is at least partially disposed above the ice tray.17. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the heat transfer devicecirculates air within the internal volume.
 18. A method comprising:providing a refrigerator with an icemaker housing with an icemaker on adoor of the refrigerator, the icemaker housing having an interiorvolume; providing an ice tray having an axis suspended within theinterior volume of the icemaker housing, the ice tray having reservoirscontaining water and a bottom surface thermally coupled to athermoelectric device; transferring heat from the bottom surface of theice tray across the thermoelectric device to a heat transfer devicewithin the icemaker housing and below the ice tray; transferring heatfrom the heat transfer device to the air below the ice tray within theinterior volume of the icemaker housing; circulating the air from an airmovement device located adjacent the icemaker and the thermoelectricdevice within the icemaker housing and circulating air parallel to theaxis and the thermoelectric device, such that heat from the bottomsurface of the ice tray is transferred to a top surface of the water;forming substantially clear ice pieces in the ice tray; harvesting thesubstantially clear ice pieces by rotating the ice tray andthermoelectric device about the axis by a motor operably coupled to theice tray such that the substantially clear ice pieces fall out of theice tray by gravity.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:transferring heat from the circulating air across the thermoelectricdevice to the bottom surface of the ice tray for releasing thesubstantially clear ice pieces from the tray; and providing a thermalstorage element within the interior volume for stabilizing airtemperature in an upper portion of the interior volume.
 20. The methodof claim 18, wherein the ice tray and the motor rotate about a commonaxis.